Trunk-caster



(Model.)-

` J. J. GOWELL.

i TRUNK GASTBR. -4 No. 252,078. Patented Jan. 10,1882.

Jij. 7.

`UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN J. cowELL, oF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

'TeunK-CAs'rla-a.l

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 252,078, dated January 10, 1882.

Y Application filed February 12, 1881. (Model.)

To all whom tt may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J. GowELL, a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and Stateof N ew J ersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trunk-Casters; and I do hereby declare the following to be a fu'll, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to'which it appertains to make and use the sa1ne,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

This inventionis one of several that was described in my application for patent for trunkrollersV tiled February 20, 1878, and subsequently divided bydirection of the examiner in charge 5 and it relates to that class of caster's composed of an upper and a lower plate, one of which is provided with roller-supporting ears adapted to pass into or through an aperture or opening in the article to which the caster may be secured, the two plates in this instance being Vfirmly secured together `by meansof rivets or pins, all as will be hereinaftermore fully set forth and definitely claimed.

The object of the invention is to combine strength, lightness, durability, and cheapness.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similarletters of reference indicate correspond` ing parts in each of the several figures, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a caster embodying my improvement designed to be applied to a` trunk. Fig. 2 is a top or plan View of the same; and Fig. 3 is a side elevation, showing a modified form of construction.

In carrying out my invention I do not limit myself to either cast or sheet metal for the plates A a and B, as both are appropriate, and may be employed for either or both of the plates at pleasure. -The plate A a is provided with an aperture or opening for the reception of a roller, and in the present instance is bent at an approximate right angle for the purpose of attachment to the side as well as to the bottom of a trunk, though the vertical portion a Vmay be removed or dispensed with, ifdesired, in which case it is applicablefor a bottom or surface caster. The plate B is also provided with an opening corresponding with that in plate A a, and with ears D for the reception and support of a roller, I, the axle h of which enters or passes through perforations in the ears D and plate B provided for the same, and the said ears D, when the caster is applied to a trunk or other article, pass into or through acorresponding aperture or opening therein. The location of the axle h of the roller, being at or near the point where the two plates are united, as will be observed, is such that it has' a bearing against both the upper .and lower plates, thereby securing great strength and the least possible strain upon the roller-supporting ears D, as will ybe manifest. The two plates are firmly and rigidly united by means of rivets s and the usual nails, rivets or screws, which serve to secure the caster at oto the trunk, and when so united the ears D, as will be observed, project outward. When either of the plates are-m-ade'ot-'castmetal the rivets s may be substituted by pins or lugs east thereon, as will be readily understood. The axle of the roller may` also be integral therewith, or it may pass therethrough,asmaybepreferred. The rollersupporting ears and the roller in the present instanceare designed to pass upward into or through an'aperture in the cleat, where the latter is used, or otherwise into the article upon which the caster is secured, although said caster is capable of being applied and used in directly the reverse position, as will be apparent, in which eventof course, the vertical portion a of the angle-plate, if used, would also have to be reversed.

In some cases it may be desirable to dispense with the ears D, in which case one of the plates (or both) may be bent or otherwise formed so as to afford a bearing for the axle' of the roller, as clearlyindicated atD in Fig. 3, and an equally satisfactory result attained. By th us locating the roller so as to let the rivet or axle h lie snugly up to the frame or plate B, directly above or at the plane where the frames or plates A and B unite, and by fastening such platesl rigidly together by means of pins or rivets s, the strength and utility of the device will be apparent.

When the device is designed to be used for a bottom or surface caster the rivetss should be located at some other convenient points, and the perforations now used for said rivets IOO be used for thenails or other fastenings to secure the easter to the trunk, 85e.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to have secured by Letters Patent, is#

1. In a caster having two plates rigidly secured together and an aperture therethrough for the reception of a roller, the combination, with one of said plates, ot' ears projecting outwardly therefrom, said ears and plate being perforated to receive the axle of the roller, which axle is held in position by joining the said two plates, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. In a caster having two plates rigidly se- `i5 cured together in close Contact, except over the axle, and provided with an opening therethrough for the reception of a roller, a roller having an axle which is held in position by the joining of the said plates, substantially as 2o and for the purposes set-forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of February, 1881.

JOHN J. COWELL. Witnesses:

CHARLES H. PELL, OLIVER BRAKE. 

